Fairfax sends ripples into parliament debate

Fairfax's shake-up has made waves in Canberra, but both the Government and the Opposition say the tide of change cannot be turned back.

Transcript

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The radical moves at Fairfax are making waves in Canberra, but both the Government and the Opposition say the tide of change can't be turned back.

The announcement has also been lobbed into the bitter political battle in Parliament, with one Coalition senator blaming the job losses at the newspaper group on the carbon tax.

From Canberra, Melissa Clarke reports.

MELISSA CLARKE, REPORTER: When the showcase of the NBN's digital future was brought to Canberra, the Communications Minister was only just learning that the future had arrived at Fairfax.

STEPHEN CONROY, COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER: There are wins and there are losses and what you're seeing here is upfront a very, very tough day for up to 1,900 people at Fairfax.

MELISSA CLARKE: The Government and Opposition are lamenting the losses, but agree change in the media landscape is inevitable.

STEPHEN CONROY: Bu the internet will continue its march and sectors that were profitable previously are going to struggle as the internet cannibalises different parts of the economy.

MALCOLM TURNBULL, OPPOSITION COMMUNICATIONS SPOKESMAN: They've moved a lot faster than many, if not most, American newspapers who have been hit much harder. So I think Fairfax could have done a lot worse.

MELISSA CLARKE: The Opposition's Communications spokesman was putting it down to the changing times, but a colleague pointed elsewhere.

GEORGE BRANDIS, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: What is the Government's message to the some 1,900 Fairfax employees whose jobs have been destroyed by its carbon tax? Why are they faced with unemployment?

PENNY WONG, FINANCE MINISTER: I think people who are worried about what is happening in their employment at Fairfax are not gonna take too kindly to you rocking up into the Senate chamber and asking ridiculous questions in an attempt to link it to your carbon scare campaign.

MELISSA CLARKE: With the carbon price coming into force in a little over a fortnight's time, the Opposition is keeping up its dogged pursuit of the issue.

TONY ABBOTT, OPPOSITION LEADER: What will the electricity price increase be when the carbon tax is $350 a tonne, which is the Government's predicted carbon price by 2050?

WAYNE SWAN, ACTING PRIME MINISTER: The Leader of the Opposition is a snake oil salesman. He has been slithering around the country, slithering around the country with a whole series of poisonous messages and a forked tongue, telling untruths about the impact of the carbon price on electricity.

MELISSA CLARKE: The Parliament's been dealing with another divisive issue with a committee handing down its report into bills to allow gay marriage. It received more than a quarter of a million public submissions, but unsurprisingly, the committee couldn't agree on whether Parliament should back the change.

With Labor allowing a conscience vote and the Coalition firm in its opposition, the bills won't get enough votes to pass.

ADAM BANDT, GREENS MP: It's for that reason that I'm gonna continue debate on my bill in Parliament, but I do not want it going to a vote this week or next week.

MELISSA CLARKE: The Greens are hoping they'll be able to change more minds and votes during Parliament's winter break.

Melissa Clarke, Lateline.

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